Hand grenade body



Sept. 25, 1945. J. J. BLUM y 2,385,398

HAND GRENADE BODY Filed Sept. 1l. 1942 Patented Sept. 25, 1945 UNITEDv STATES PATENT oFFlcE HAND GRENADE BODY Jerome J Blum, Olean, N. Y., assgnor to The Fibre Forming Corporation, Olean, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application september 11, 1942, serial No. 457,931 3 claims. '(ci. 1oz- 64) For. such use, metal bodies of heretofore conventional construction which are subject to fragmentation on explosion arenaturally very undesirable andY dangerous to the user, Vhand grenades conventionally employing Vfive second fuses which are ignited when the grenade armed and thrown. It is therefore a particular object of my invention to provide a hand grenade of this type with a body wherein fragmentation dangeroustothe user is avoided. I 'he undesirability of such dangerous fragmentation is avoided by the use of a hand grenade body formed in accordancewith my invention which although devoid of metals is or dense 4and rigid construction, has good physical characteristics and good resistance to a high range of conditions of climate and storage. 1

In general my novel hand grenadebody comprises an inner tubular body portion capped at one end by a member provided with an 'internally threaded annular boss for the introduction and engagement of the exploding device, and closed at its opposed end by a complementary cap. These body portions are composed of brous pulp and .a thermo-plastic binder having good water-resistant qualities, the respective parts being each seamless and pre-molded into form, and beingfthereafter consolidated and coinpressed under heat t form dense rigid :bodies whereincthe binder and fibres are uniformly distributed in interlocking engagement.

Other objects relatedto the component materials, the details and modications of construction and the arrangement of parts as will be apparent from a consideration of the following specification and diagrammatic drawing wherein;

Fig.1 is a plan view of my novel oensive hand grenade body.

, Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3is`a sectionsimilar to Fig. 2 of a modified form of construction.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3,

Referring to the drawing, and particularly Figs.

1 and 2, the reference numeral I0 indicates Athe inner tubular body, preferably comprising an integrally formed annular top II, the Wholebeing of seamless construction and preformed, as hereinafter more fully set forth, of fibrous material and a thermo-plastic binder. Extending over the top of the inner tube body I0 and in snug embracingengagement therewith is the seamless head cap I2 provided with integrallyformed top I3, from which there projects outwardly and ax ially thereof a portion I4 hereinaftertermed an "annular boss. 'I 'his annular boss I4 is internally recessed as indicated at I5 for the reception and retention of the bushing I6. This bushing I6 is retained within the 'recess -I'5 and between the boss lI4 and the top II of the inner :bodyI IIJ, the bushing being preferably provided With a base flange I'I so as to more rmly seat itv 'and better retain it betweenA the boss I4 and the top I'I. The external lip I8 of the boss I 4, the bushing I6 and the'annular opening of the top I I are all preferably of the same diameter and provided with a continuous internalfthread for the recep tion andv engagement of the conventional hand grenade exploding device; the latter not :being-'il'- lustrated.

The open end or bottom'of the'innerr body-.I0 is closed by'means of theseamless tubular base cap I9 provided with integrally formed bottom 20j` It is preferred that the lips of the head cap I2 and the base closure'cap I9 be substantially in meeting'V engagement as illustrated', andA that the inner body lllbecoe'xtensive with 'the joint depths of the two caps so as toA provide'a'double wall struct-ure and a body of reinforced construe# tion. The meeting lips ofthe caps I2 1and` I 9 may be additionally sealed by means vof a strip'of tape 2I to provide additional moisture sealing.v 'If deL sired, the various adjacentl portions may be additionally bonded together by means of suitable adhesive, for example, the top II of the' inner body -I0 may be adhesively joined to the top I3'of the head cap I2, and adhesive may also be applied at any other suitable points,' for example, between the tubular portion of the 'inner body'IIl and head cap I2, and between the' tubularbody I0 and thebase cap IB. 1 u

As hereinbefore indicated and as hereinafter more fully set forth, eachy ofn the component tub ular portions III, I2` and I9 are of a fibrous' nature rcomposed of a rigid, dense, Waterproof; homogeneous 'combination of a fibrous pulp and a thermo-plastic binder.' The bushingv I6 although likewise non-metallic is preferably.formed of` a material having relatively' greater' mechanical strength than the remaining portions of my novel grenade body so that more perfect threads can be vcut thereon for the purpose of more firmly engaging the corresponding threaded portion of the exploding device, if suchis desirable. For such use the bushing I6 may be formed of a plastic material such as hard rub-ber or a hard,

cap I9 provided with integrally formed bottom In this instance, however, although employing a similar tubular head cap 22 provided with integrally formedY top 23, the integrally formed annular boss 24 may be used as shown Without .the employment of an internal recess and `an additional bushing. In this form the annular boss 24 is, together with the top il provided with an `internal thread for the reception and engagement of the exploding device.v I may also provide additional reinforcement at the base by the positioning of a circulardisc 2.5 within the base closure .cap vI9', this disc 25 being if desired bonded to the bottom 20 by means of suitable adhesive. The length of the inner tube body I0 is substantially coextensive with the resulting internal depths of the two caps, the meeting lips `of the two caps being if desired ladditionally sealed by means .of the tape 2 l It will `be understood that the vform of construction illustrated in Fig. 2 may likewise be reinforced at .the base thereof by the lodging of a disc within the bottom of the base closure cap I9 similar to the disc 25 shown in Fig. 3.

In forming the component parts of my novel container (with the exception of the bushing yH5 when employed) I form the preliminary bodies thereof by the well known method of accretion feltinguti1izing a mixture of fibrous pulp and a thermo-plastic .binder which binder may benne or more of the various synthetic or natural thermo-plastic binders -or resins and is'prefera-bly of various types of synthetic or natural bitumens or mixtures thereof, the fibrous material being preferably paper stock and for the 'present pur-l pose waste paper stock is suitable. In general in accordance with one well known process,V there is rst formed a preliminary mass of slightly wet fibers and binder, and `after an intimate admiX- ture of `the fiber and binder is formed ina suitable device Such as a Werner-.Pfleider mixer` water is added and the mass transferred to a beater to reduce it to the form of aworkable pulp, after which further water is added toforrn an aqueous pulp of about 2% solids consistency. In forming my fibrous-bituminous composition,v I may employ a pre-mix, of to 50% and preferably 40% of -waste paper stock of dry weight, together with ,-5.0 to '70 and preferably 60% of bituminous material. 4 v

The resulting dilute lstock is then ,deposited by a conventional accretion methoden foraminous forms by either vacuum or suction to build up the parts to a desired thickness andof their approximate shapes, after which they are Vremoved from the forming members and Placed in ovens and thoroughly dried. Afterl such. drying. they are subjected to repressingl treatment to bring them to definite shape and dimension. This is accomplished by subjecting the -partsto prese gio.

sure in dies heated from about 250 to 350 F., and preferably about 325 F., and at a pressure of from about 500 to about 1,000 pounds per square inch, depending upon the component materials and the resultant desired finish.

A preferred composition composed of approximately 40% waste paper stock by dry weight and approximately 60% of bitumen, accretion felted, oven driedandthen pressed and"`consolidated in dies at a temperature of about 325 F. and a pres- Asure of from about 500 to about 1,000 pounds per square inch, will withstand a strain of about 3 poundsper point per square inch, or a pressure of approximately 375 pounds per square inch for a part of 1A; inch thickness.

' The resultantv finished products are thoroughly waterproof and willnot warp or deteriorate after long exposure to the elements. They will also retain their shape at temperatures ranging up to about 175 F., and are not appreciably affected as to size either by heat or cold .at vtemperatures rangingfrom about freezing to .about F.

Due to the fact that Vthis material is thermoplastic and Waterproofed with. an inert substance,v it will not become brittle Yexcept at sub-.zero-tem-` perature, `and exhaustive tests have shownthat ,it will not absorb moisture above vapI'Joxim'ately .5% regardless of atmospheric humidity.` and like water immersion test indicates that .therev is no greater water absorption. f.. j 1

A `grenade thus. constructed 'is waterproof YVand is not affectedby changesI in temperatureglor humidity and if exposed to the elements willA last indefinitely .and will not deteriorate. It can wholly immersed in water and if properly sealed the contents lwill not be affectedin any manner whatsoever and'it will at all times be suitable for the purpose intended.` Y Y Y Although in the foregoing I have .shownand described a hand grenade body suitalble lfor use as an offensive hand lgrenade adaptednto` contain a demolition charge for use- .at fairly Close quarters, the body being free of metal .parts which would be subject to fragmentation onexplosion and thus undesirable as being dangerous tothe user, it will yb'e understood that my novel body may be used `for other hand ,grenade llingsto which it is susceptible, such :as for v.exaifnple cer-,tain chemical fillings. I .therefore l.dol not Wishto `loe limited to the details and functions hereinbefore set forth except as limited bythe following claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A waterproof hand grenade vbody of .the class describedcomprising la seamless tubular Vinner body, a seamless tubular head cap `having .an integrallylgformed internally recessed annular boss .adapted to receive and engage an exploding` device. a seamless tubularbase vclosure cap, and a .threaded bushing positioned ,within .the recessed portionof said boss. the said tubular portions bef ing .each pre-formed and composedof arigiddense homogeneous combination of flbrous'pulpanda thermo-,plastic binder, and .said bushing .being formedof a ynon-metallic materialof relatively greater mechanical strength..v l v 2. 4A `hand grenadefbody of the class'.described comprising a tubular inner body having an'inte grally formed 'annular head, a tubular head `cap in Asnug embracing engagement thereover, said head cap having anin'tegrally formed f annular .top and an axially and outwardly projectingjinternally recessed annular bossgaA tubular basecap having an integrally. formedb'ottbm in' snug .einbracing engagement .over the opposedopen end of said inner body, and a threaded bushing within the recess of said boss for engagement with an exploding device for the grenade, the said tubular body and cap portions being each seamless and pre-formed of a rigid dense Waterproof homogeneous combination of a thermo-plastic binder and fibrous pulp, and said 'bushing being formed of a non-metallic material of relatively greater mechanical strength.

3. A hand grenade body of the class described -comprising a tubular inner body having an integrally formed annular head, a tubular head cap in snug embracing engagement thereover, said head cap having -an integrally formed annular top and an axially and outwardly projecting internally recessed annular boss, a tubular base cap having an integrally formed bottom in snug embracing engagement over the opposed open end of said inner body, and a flanged threaded bushing retained between the recessed portion of said boss and th-e top of said inner fbody for engagement with an exploding device for the grenade,

the said tubular body and cap portions being each seamless and pre-formed of a rigid, dense, Waterproof, homogeneous combination of a thermoplastic binder and fibrous pulp, and said bushing being formed of a non-metallic material of relatively greater mechanical strength JEROME J. BLUM. 

